The Ubiquitous Binder
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Looking at my dark red and black screen I saw a new addition to my quest list, including the absence of one mission...
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Quests-
1- Find and Learn Magic | Rewards: Intelligence + 4 , Charisma + 2 , Ring of Protection, 1000 XP
2- Kill a Creature | Proficiency In Stealth , Proficiency in Animal handling
3- Lose Virginity | 1 Level, A happy ending?
4- Discover Regional Info | Intelligence + 2 , Proficiency in History, Spell Book of Cantrips
5- TRAINING MONTAGE | Proficiency in Simple Weapons, Proficiency in Longbows, Quiver of Retrieving
6- Faerûn Knowledge | Map of Faerûn , Compass, Adventurer's Camp Clothes
7-The Bridge, it moves? | Knowledge on basic Mechanics, Magical Rune Knowledge
8- Not to be a Barbarian | Charisma + 4
9- Find Meaning? I guess? | A Golden Star? , Charisma + 2 , A Random OP Magic Item
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The new mission was fucking ridiculous and seemed to be utterly random and meme-like. Golden star as a reward was definitely a diss at the stupidity of my mission. I wasn't being self conscious at all either, the framework just seemed to be making fun of me more often. I didn't get the chance to continue my brooding as Lillianna came back with two tall glasses of wine.
"Sorry Lumina, the maid got delayed by the bar manager."
"No problems..."
She flashed a smile before setting down the glasses on the table. Like that our conversation continued, me learning about the Aasimar and their wings. We were all tied to our parents godly domains and mortal features, some looked elven in physicality whilst others were completely different. Most Aasimar were Human-looking as they were the most adaptable species on the face of the world, which was called Toril. Aasimar traits varied based upon their manner of falling. Some were pure and untainted, whilst others had fallen from their godly parent's grace.
From the conversation I quickly surmised that I was neither... My wings were completely different to what she explained. She, herself, was inquisitive about how my wings got the way they were. Designs varied apparently, but they were usually black or white with very little variation. Some were skeletal and black but they happened to be rare and only applied to Aasimar who had fallen into the hands of necromancers for a very long period of time or, they dabbled in necromancy themselves.
I knew the basics of what Necromancy was, but I didn't have the whole idea of what it meant here. Undead was a basic component of Necromantic magic in stories and fairy tales but whether that was true here? Unknown. Lilianna continued to explain features of Aasimar and such, but truth be told she started to run out of details and began to fall upon generalisations. It was at this stage that much of the bar and tavern was empty, the night closing swiftly into the early morning. We could tell as the staff switched out, the barman yelling at us that we needed to go to sleep. Lilianna stood up and winced as he did so.
"Lumina, I'll have to call it here today. I have a long day tomorrow and need to get a proper sleep."
"Ah! No problem, hope you have a good sleep... Thanks for helping me out."
"Don't worry about it. Remember, think of closing your wings to make them phase into your soul."
"I'll remember it."
"Good night."
"Night."
She walked away through the doors we first entered to come into the Tavern. Unlike her I stayed for a few more minutes, finishing off my wine until there was nothing but air in the bottom. Sighing as my mind whirred at all the information I had received today, I stood and began walking towards the reception desk. Arriving at said desk I was met with a different woman than previous, her hand holding out a key as some sort of haze covered the majority of her form. Not wishing to complicate my own day, morning at this point, I simply took the key and went to the room in which the key was designed for; the number being displayed on a small hanging piece of parchment that hung from the back.
The halls of the inn was just as opulent as the entryway and as I stepped in front of my door I saw a dim glow from inside. Twisting shadows that stirred from firelight peaked out from below the door as I put the key in and opened my room's door. What met me was a beautiful queen-sized bed with silken drapery and fluffed pillows. In the corner sat a fireplace that lightly crackles despite there being no wood inside of it. There were some small pieces of furniture for sitting in front of said fire, and setting ones belongings inside, but other than that it was just lush carpets and the bed. I didn't have much to actually put away so I simply set my bow and pack on the bedside table and secured my coin purse inside said table drawer.
Without any preamble I slumped onto the bed and crawled my way up until my head was securely on one of the pillows. It was beyond comfortable and much more enjoyable than any bed on Earth that I had slept on. Within minutes I was fading out, my door locked behind me as I entered and my goodies secured.
...
Waking up the next morning and heading out towards the front entrance I noticed a severe lack of people. The only people in the entire Inn were the receptionist lady and the bar staff. Inquiring as to the whereabouts of Lilianna all I got was a shrug and or a small apology for not knowing. It seemed that I was all left to my own devices for the day. I attempted to hand the key over but was turned away as the receptionist informed me of Lilianna's generosity in paying for my stay for a week.
I felt strangely like a trophy wife receiving a gift from her rich husband but decided to thrust that thought from my mind as I put the key in my coin purse. Walking outside of the inn I found on my map that there were tens of new icons that showed shops and taverns around. Finding that I'd be coming back to this inn often I favourited it, leaving a massive red mark on my map for me to follow back. With nothing but exploration and things to do on my list I began to explore the districts of Iriaebor.
The first I went to was the market district where there were thousands of stalls selling nick knacks and trinkets. Clothes were on display in many of them, in styles that were both jaw-droppingly gorgeous and also, at times, downright scandalous. Hair dressers and braiders were arrayed throughout in various areas of the markets. Everything that you could think of to purchase in a Medieval world was here. The only thing lacking was magical items, but magic itself wasn't uncommon as many singers and musicians sprung fireworks from their fingers or used spectral images to play other instruments than the one they were holding in their hands.
Jovial would be a word one could use to describe the people's happiness in this place. Food was sold at almost every stall and it varied between exotic creatures I had never heard of and common chickens or fish. The entire marketplace was a cacophony of chaotic senses, hearing and smelling overstimulated almost constantly in its presence. Many kids and mothers walked the markets with very little men around, except for those in armour and adorning themselves with weapons... A type of people that I identified as Adventurers or Mercenaries. After an hour or two wondering around, window shopping, I started to wander into the deeper city centre. Bustling lively atmosphere was traded in for a more calm and copacetic one, nobles, citizens and soldiers wandering the streets more thickly.
Ladies carried parasols and were dressed in flamboyant dresses that expressed the sheer prestige and money they possessed. Servants ran after them like licking dogs as many were run ragged by their tempestuous mistresses. The buildings were made more from marbles and fine stoneworks at this stage and the streets themselves were decadently set with ever burning lanterns, even despite it being morning time. No carts were seen up here except for the rare carriage that whizzed by in a flurry of movement. I started to feel awkward up here when I saw a large roundabout section of the road up ahead, a massive oak tree sticking out of the garden centre and framed by rays of sunlight that managed to poke through the massive spiralling towers.
'Maybe I can get some knowledge of Faerûn here? A book store could be here...'
Gazing at my map leisurely, attempting to not draw attention to myself amidst the growingly richer surroundings I eventually came across a book store. It's name was the Ubiquitous Binder and as I stepped out in front of It I saw absolutely no one enter. Like a ghost town it was bereft of customers, the warm cordial lighting inside portraying a different feeling than the exterior presentation.
Shaking my head at the strangeness I was constantly running into since stepping into the city, I entered the store, a bell ringing delicately as I did so. Cosy was an understatement for the shop as it was filled with plush reading chairs and had multiple bookcases. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling in glinting radiance as a slight humming careened over from the middle of the 'shop' ,turned library, turned study room?
Stepping light towards the middle, my footsteps silent with the help of my boots, I noted the form of a pale being. Long ears dangled languidly down behind his neck, almost like an elf's but much more exaggerated. Eyes of bright silver poked out from under long wavy blonde hair, their movements rapid as the figure held a book in their hands. A page turned sonorously as the hum grew for a few moments and dimmed just a moment later.
"Give me a moment! I am at a good part of my book."
Frowning in confusion at how he found me out I walked up and waited off to the side of what I could see now, was his reading chair. Books had previously blocked my vision as the entire space around the being was stacked with books and papers of all descriptions and colours. Another flick of a page echoed out as I continued to examine my environs. There wasn't so much as a single register or reception desk anywhere that I could see. All there was, was books. Despite my befuddlement I attempted to look over the being's left shoulder to see what he was reading. I got a glimpse but it was in a language that was beyond Elvish, Common or Celestial in complexity. Not even a chance was given for me to try and understand as the being flipped to the next page, sighed, put a bookmark in the book and slammed it shut.
"I appreciate you waiting... Not many do that."
The being's tone was deep and masculine but held a smoothness that was synonymous with butter. His face, my assumption being that it was male, was smooth and not unlike a porcelain mask.
"No, we do not sell books. No we do not rent them. No we do not loan them either. If you have come here to take knowledge then feel free to leave. Now. If you have come here to teach yourself and to expand your understanding, than that can be purchased."
Mashing his words didn't seem to be his forte as he was utterly blunt, a trait I could learn to be accustomed to.
"I came here to learn... I thought this was a bookshop when I first entered but I only wished to learn more about the world."
"Hah, a kindred spirit then."
Long-ish fingers extended out and grasped a pot of tea off to the side, his other hand extending out a flame to heat the bottom of it. The pot immediately started boiling a few seconds later as the steam flushed out of the small hole at the top, floral patterns etched into the entire exterior of the tea pot.
"So, what do you wish to learn about...?"
"Mainly Faerûn, possibly some etiquette for the upper class in Iriaebor. Perhaps some regional information, like cool places that exist and such."
"Ah, that is very cheap information, very common information... 5 silver."
I narrowed my eyes instantly, my gut churning as I had the immediate thought that it was way too cheap. There had to be a catch.
"What's the catch...?"
"Hehehehe, only catch is that you must stay here and read it. I allow no books to leave the store."
The queasiness in my stomach abated as my mind worked over the possible fuckery that could be afoot. The allure of finishing my missions was much more pressing to me however as the prospect of gaining +4 to my Charisma and a map of Faerûn was beyond appealing. Finally I could rid myself of negatives on my status sheet.
"How much would knowledge on basic magics cost?"
"OHhhhHhhh... 🎵!!"
"That would be a single gold piece, for cantrips at least... Anything more than that... We, would, need, to, make, a, deal."
'Shit... he sounds like what the bible said the devil was. Fuck sakes, i find out I'm an angel kid and now I am running into strange shady shit...'
"I'll take the cantrips and general information deal. Here."
I opened my coin purse and took out the singular gold and five silver pieces, finding a pouting expression arising on his face despite being paid. Still, he did not let the coins fade away, his fingers grasping them all from my hand before several books floated through mid-air and over to me. They flew a long extended arc before landing in front of me and stacking themselves for me to read.
"Go ahead and read... Just, if you wish to make a deal, don't forget that I am always here..."
His voice was still buttery smooth despite the creepiness in his words. It was off-putting for me as it was such a dichotomy that it made most of the wonder in the situation burn away into cinders.
'I better read this shit quickly.'
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